Abstract
Winter wheat is a widely cultivated crop that requires high inputs of nitrogen (N) fertilization, which is often connected with N losses. The application of fertilizers with nitrification (NI) and urease inhibitors (UI) is an opportunity to eliminate the risk of N losses and improve N availability to plants. The aim of this study is to compare the effect of conventional nitrogen fertilizers with fertilizers containing nitrogen-transformation inhibitors as well as to evaluate the timing of their application on the wheat-grain yield and quality under the conditions of a three-year field experiment. The examined fertilizers with inhibitors were applied in a single dose or in a split application in combination with conventional fertilizers. The single application of urea with NI and/or UI resulted in a relatively average increase in the grain yield, while protein content and the Zeleny-test values were significantly increased compared to the split N application. The more significant effect of urea with NI and UI was found under the moisture-rich conditions compared to the drier conditions. A significant increase in the grain yield (by 6.3%) and in the Zeleny-test value (by 16.5%) was observed after inhibited urea application comparing to the control treatment (without inhibitors).
Highlights
The efficient use of fertilizers is an important factor of sustainable agriculture
Almost no differences between the grain yield in the GS1 and GS2 were found
The significantly highest yield was observed in the N1 treatment fertilized by ALZON neo-N, which was 6.3% higher than the control without the application of inhibitors
Summary
The efficient use of fertilizers is an important factor of sustainable agriculture. It influences crop productivity, but it reduces nutrients losses, which eliminates the detrimental impact on the environment. Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for plant growth and development. Many authors have described its positive effect on the plant biomass production, the grain yield, and the grain protein content [1,2,3]. The average N efficiency in the field conditions is 32%, and no more than 40% [4].
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